Noise-making surprise toy



Dec. 4, 1962 r J. A. FRAMPTON 3,066,934

NOISE-MAKING SURPRISE TOY Filed July 11, 1960 INVENTOR. JOHN A. FRAMPTON BY MAHONEY, MILLER & RAMBO ATTORNEYS.

ijnited States Patent 3366,934- Patented Dec. 4, 1%52 3,066,934 NGHSE-MAKING SURPRISE TOY John A. Frampton, 144 E. Beechwold Blvd, Columbus, Ohio Filed July 11, was, Ser. No. 41,970 3 Claims (Cl. 27227) The present invention relates generally to surprise toys or practical jokes, and more particularly to an improved noise-making surprise toy.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novelty surprise toy in the form of an outer casing or container which is appropriately formed and/or decorated to simulate the innocent appearance of an ordinary beer can or the like, and which has concealed therein a battery-operated, noise-making unit and associated switch mechanism operable upon the lifting of the container from a supporting surface to emit a sharp and sudden noise, and to thereby startle an unsuspecting party.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a surprise toy of this character which is of relatively simplified construction, and which utilizes more or less standard and readily available component parts in its construction.

A further object is to provide a noise-making surprise toy comprising an outer container and an internal, normally concealed, battery-operated, noise-making mechanism which may be easily assembled and disassembled for battery replacement or repair purposes where necessary.

For a further and more detailed understanding of the present invention and the various additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

PEG. 1 is a medial, longitudinal, vertical sectional view of my improved noise-making surprise toy showing the same resting bottom down upon a table or other flat supporting surface;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the noise-making unit and its associated switch mechanism when the toy is lifted free of a supporting surface;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

F26. 4 is a similar view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken through one of the battery pole contacts of the noise-making unit; and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit employed in the present noise-making toy.

With reference to the drawing, it will be seen that the present surprise toy makes use of an outer cylindrical casing or hollow container 14 which may, advantageously, constitute an ordinary metal beer can from which the bottom wall has been cut and removed. As such, the container id is formed to include a circular top wall 11 and a continuous cylindrical side wall 12 and an open bottom bounded by the circular rim 13. The external surfaces of the container may, if desired, be suitably colored or otherwise decorated to give the same an attractive and innocent appearance.

Positioned within the container is an inner tubular or sleeve-like casing 14 preferably formed from stifi cardboard or other suitable dielectric material. The outer diameter of the inner casing 14 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the outer container 10. The inner casing is releasably retained within the container by means of a resiliently contractible, split-type leaf spring 15 which is riveted at its intermediate portion to the lower end portion of the inner casing, as at 16, and which has its outer end portions arranged normally to flex outwardly into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the side wall 12 of the container above the shoulder provided by the lower rim 13, so as to hold the inner casing 14 and the associated noise-making unit, as hereinafter described, against accidental removal from the container. To release the spring 15 and thus permit removal of the inner casing 14, the outer ends of the spring may simply be flexed inwardly or contracted about the inner sleeve so as to clear the rim 13 to thus permit the inner casing to be removed axially through the open bottom of the container.

The inner casing 14 is provided slightly inwardly of the upper end thereof with a transversely extending and circular partition wall 17. The diameter of the wall 17 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the inner casing 14-, in order that there is a close frictional fit between the periphery of the wall 17 and the inner casing 14. Additionally, the inner casing 14 is provided with an annular shoulder-forming strip 18 which is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the casing 14 and which provides an annular ledge or shoulder for the support of the partition wall 17.

Riveted, or otherwise suitably secured, to the partition wall 17 is the inner end portion of a resiliently flexible metal strip or switch arm 19. The outer end portion of the arm 19, as shown in FIG. 1, is normally arranged to extend above and in spaced relation to a relatively stationary metal contact 2h which may take the form of a metal clip or staple attached to and carried upon the upper surface of the partition wall 17. The outer end of the switch arm 19 is formed with a hooked or looped end extremity 21 to which is connected the upper end of a flexible string or chain 22. The string or chain 22 extends downwardly through a window or opening 23 formed in the partition wall 17 and is attached at its lower end to a connector eye 24 formed on a generally U-shaped metal frame member 25. Riveted, or otherwise suitably secured, to the central portion of the frame member 25 is a resiliently expansible, U-shaped batterysupporting clip 26. The clip 26 partially encompasses and releasably supports a small dry cell, flashlight-type battery 27. The base or negative pole of the battery 27 is held in electrical contact with the upper leg 25a of the frame member 25, while the positive pole 28 of the battery engages an electrical contact plate or rivet 29 which is supported by the opposite or lower leg 25b of the frame member 25. As shown particularly in FIG. 5, the contact plate or rivet 29 is electrically insulated from the lower leg 25b of the frame member 25 by means of a fiber or other dielectric Washer or collar 3i which is fitted within an opening formed in the lower leg 25b.

The contact plate or rivet 29 is formed with a lateral terminal extension 31 to which is soldered and electrically connected one end of a flexible wire 32. The opposite end of the wire 32 extends upwardly within the inner casing 14 and is soldered to the stationary switch contact 26).

Attached to the lower leg 22% of the frame member 25 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a relatively small size, battery-operated, vibrator-type horn 33 of a type commonly used on childrens bicycles or similar toys. The horn 33 is electrically grounded to the lower leg 25b of the frame member 25 and is thus electrically connected by the frame member 25 with the base or negative terminal of the battery 27. The horn 33 is also provided with a contact terminal 3% which is electrically connected with the inner end of the flexible switch arm 15 by means of a second, flexible lead wire 35.

As will be noted by reference to FIG. 1 of the draw ing, the frame member 25, battery 27 and the horn assembly are adapted to be suspended as a unit from the outer end of the switch arm 19, as by means of the string or chain 22. The length of the string or chain 22, combined with the overall length of the frame 25 and horn 33, is such that when the outer casing or container llil is placed bottom down upon a flat supporting surface, such as a table top indicated. at 36, the lower end of the horn 33 will rest and be supported upon the table top and the switch arm 19 will occupy its normal open position in spaced relation to the stationary switch contact 20. Thus, with the container resting upon a supporting surface, the operating circuit between the horn 33 and the battery 27 will be open and the horn will remain deenergized. However, in the event the outer container is lifted or otherwise removed from the sup porting surface 36, the Weight of the frame member 25, the battery 27 and the horn assembly will cause the switch arm 19 to flex downwardly into closing contact with the stationary contact 2! to thus close an operating circuit to the horn 33, thereby causing the latter to emit a sudden and sharp noise.

As will be readily understood, the present device provides an amusing practical poke. When the outer container is attractively decorated or made to simulate an ordinary, unopened beer can and is placed bottom down upon a table or bar counter, the internal noise-making assembly is entirely concealed from the view of an unsuspecting or unwary person. If such a person chooses to pick the container up, or otherwise slide the same off of the table or bar top, the now unsupported weight of the frame member 2 5, battery 27 and horn assembly will cause the switch arm to close upon the contact 20 and thus energize the horn 33, all to the surprise and shock of the unsuspecting dupe, and to the amusement or" the informed onlookers.

The present surprise toy is also characterized by its simplicity of construction and ease of assembly and disassembly within and from the outer container. Thus, to provide access to the internal component parts, and particularly to the battery for replacement purposes, it is merely necessary to contract the free end portion of the spring strip 15, by means of a knife blade, to free the same from engagement with the lower rim 13 of the container, and the entire inner casing 14, battery and horn assembly and switch assembly maybe removed as a unit from the lower end of the outer container to. Thereafter, the partition wall 17 and the depending frame, battery and horn may be removed from the upper end of the inner casing to provide access to the battery for replacement purposes.

While a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that modifications as to details of construction and design may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A noise-making, surprise toy comprising a hollow container having closed top and side walls and an open bottom adapted to rest upon a flat supporting surface; a resiliently flexible switch arm carried within said container and having an outer end portion arranged to flex in a generally vertical plane; a battery and electrical noise maker unit suspended within said container from the outer end portion of said switch arm and having a lower end portion arranged to extend downwardly slightly below the open bottom of said container when said container is lifted vertically from a supporting surface, said battery and noise maker unit being arranged to move upwardly and to be concealed within the confines of said container when the latter is placed bottom down upon a supporting surface; and switch means electrically connected with said switch arm and said battery and noise maker unit and operable to close an electrical circuit for said noise maker when said container is liftec tree of a supporting surface.

2. A noise-making surprise toy comprising a hollow container having closed top and side walls and an open bottom adapted to rest upon a flat supporting surface; a battery and electrical noise-making unit; means suspending said battery and noise-making unit for limited, relative vertical movement within said container, said battery and noise-making unit having a lower part thereon arranged to extend slightly downwardly beyond the open bottom of said container when the latter is lifted free of a supporting surface and arranged to engage such surface to move said unit relatively upwardly within the confines of said container when said container is placed bottom down upon such surface; and switch means carried within said container and electrically connected with said unit for closing an operating circuit for said unit when the lower part thereof is extended outwardly beyond the bottom of said container and to open such circuit when said unit occupies a position within the confines of said container.

3. A noise-making surprise toy comprising an outer container formed with an open bottom; an inner casing removably positioned within the confines of said container; means detachably securing said inner casing within said container, normally open switch means carried by said inner casing and including a resiliently flexible armhaving an outer end portion arranged to flex in a generally vertical plane; a flexible connector secured to and depending from the outer end portion of said arm; and a battery and electrical noise maker unit suspended from said flexible connector and having a lower end portion arranged normally to project slightly beyond the open bottom of said container, said unit having electrical connections with said switch means and being arranged to flex said switch arm to a circuit-closing position when the bottom of said container is free of a supporting surface, said unit being movable upwardly within the confines of said container when the bottom of said container is placed upon a supporting surface, whereby to cause said switch means to assume its normally open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

